Contents

Turf Wars

Time was short to execute the plan while there was a moment of opportunity. In the week after the Avatar arrived, she had joined a Pro-Bending team, almost perfect as they may come up against the defending Whitefalls Wolf-Bats, notorious cheaters. The message that would come in the final tournament would only further prove the Equalist message.

Added to this good fortune was the breakout of a turf war between the Triads. The Agni Kai's and the Red Monsoons had been testing each other's territory for some time but finally had broken out into war. Zolt was preparing the Triple Threat's as a precaution, knowing they would try to grab their turf during the fighting. Zolt had sent out recruiters to fill his ranks.

Most would think this was the worst time to strike at the Triads, but only those who didn't understand their functions. Zolt needed his best men on the front fighting. He hired extra muscle as a precaution for security. Meaning, his protectors, while numerous, were weaker than usual. A perfect opportunity for the Equalists to strike.

His scouts reported back, Zolt only had two veterans, and recruiters to boot, with him from the Triad, while the rest was extra muscle. About two dozen in all. He had to expect that Zolt would put up a good fight and perhaps the recruiters might as well. Just more than a dozen including his Lieutenant would be enough. Now it was to wait.

Preparing the Rally

He walked down the line of cells. This lair of underground tunnels proved useful and the high powers of Republic City ignored what was beneath them, even if it held them up. He observed the prisoners, the Triple Threat Triads were chosen first for a reason, they were formed from all elements unlike the exclusive Agni Kai and Red Monsoons. But soon they would follow them to their doom.

Zolt was held in his own cell and tied down, to prevent him from any bending. In the next two cells were his cadre of weak 'muscle'. They were easily captured, the more exhilarating part of the report was that the Avatar had arrived and chased the party.

She and a firebender pursued the group. Two chi blockers turned to face them and subdued the unsuspecting benders. Unfortunately, the Avatar's Polar Bear Dog prevented them from capturing the incapacitated Avatar. It was unfortunate but not devastating, they would have their chance at the Avatar again soon. And it was best if they chose when.

Amon looked through the prisoners. he could tell the two recruiters apart from the rest, they were tougher and calmer than those around them. "Them two."

He then looked around. Four benders would be enough to prove his point. Zolt, his recruiters and one more. He spotted a boy to the corner. An earthbender, he was easily taken by just the gas grenades the Equalist used before breaking into the Triple Threats' Headquarters. The boy was a coward if there was one, "And him, that will be all."

"Yes, sir." The chi blockers opened the cells and pulled out the four prisoners he had selected.

"Get them top-side for the rally." He looked to his Lieutenant, "Has the message been sent?"

"Yes, the rally has been planned and will just need people to use the pamphlets they received. It will all start and nine o'clock."

"Good, be prepared. The rally is important as this will be the true beginning of the Revolution."

The Revelation

The time had come for the Revelation. To reveal his power to the world and make equality the standard of Republic City. First it would be the criminals that would fall, but the tyrannical bender elite would soon follow.

The Revelation

He walked to the platform followed by his Lieutenant and his loyalists. The platform raised as steam escaped to the sound of an announcer, "Please welcome your hero, your savior... Amon!"

Cheering and applause erupted as the people saw their masked leader step up. He walked forward to the microphone waiting for him. It was time to tell a tragedy.

"My quest for equality began many years ago." He picked up the mic to walk the length of the stage, "When I was a boy, my family and I lived on a small farm. We weren't rich, and none of us were benders." The crowd listened intently, "This made us easy prey for the firebender who extorted my father." He walked to the right, so that eyes followed his movements as spoke, "One day, my father confronted this man, but when he did, that firebender took my family from me. Then, he took my face." Gasps of horror and astonishment followed as the rally fell into a fearful silence.

"I've been forced to hide behind a mask ever since."

"As you know, the Avatar has recently arrived in Republic City." The crowd took its cue to spew its venom as they booed the very mention of the Avatar, sharing in his hatred. "And if she were here, she would tell you that bending brings balance to the world. But, she is wrong. The only thing bending has brought to the world. is suffering. It has been the cause of every war in every era."

He calmed to a cold voice, "But that is about to change." The crowds quieted.

"I know you have been wondering, 'What is the Revelation?' You are about to get your answer." He continued on, it was important to grab them now while they were entranced, "Since the beginning of time, the spirits have acted as guardians of our world, and they have spoken to me."

"They say the Avatar has failed humanity. That is why the spirits have chosen me to usher in a new era of balance. They have granted me a power that will make Equality a reality. The power to take a person's bending away. Permanently."

Gasps followed. Now would be the most trying part. Many wouldn't believe and it was key to prove what he said, he even heard someone say, "This guy's insane!" Now it was time to show the power of Equality.

"Now, for a demonstration. Please welcome, Lightning Bolt Zolt." An Equalist led him in, tied and defenseless, "Leader of the Triple Threat Triad, and one of the most notorious criminals in Republic City."

The crowd instantly booed his arrival, hatred for this man was sincere and widespread. True to his character, Zolt's response was, "Ah, boo yourself!"

More guards soon led in the rest of the prisoners that would be showcased. "Zolt has amassed a fortune by extorting and abusing non-benders. But his reign of terror is about to come to an end."

He took a lighter voice as he continued and stepped back, "Now, in the interest of fairness, I will give Zolt the chance to fight to keep his bending." His Lieutenant untied the leader of the deadly thugs.

Zolt immediately fired a blast of flame at the leader of the Equalist. He nimbly dodged it and continues to weave through the many failed strikes he makes. He got closer with every dodge and would soon be upon him. Zolt changed tactics and charged forward, twisting his hand in a short arc, energy surrounding it. Lightning escaped, heading straight for his head.

He ducked under the stream in an instant and shot his arm forward, grabbing the wrist of the firebender. He twisted it around, turning Zolt around with it. The arc of lightning followed, hitting the stage and cutting through and doing so as it hits the wall and then the ceiling, cutting the metal it passed.

He grabbed the neck of Zolt, momentarily stopping all his movements. He raised his other hand and slowly descended it onto his forehead, placing his thumb in the center.

Zolt's eyes narrowed in panic and dotted across the air. And then it happened, the charge of the room changed and the intense light of electricity escaping Zolt's hand dimmed. It continued forward, reaching for something to connect to but falling helplessly. It collapsed and flames ensued, but soon the flames died and followed the lightning into nothing.

Stripping Zolt of his bending.

He let go of the man, who fell almost lifeless to the floor. He got up, weakly and threw a fist forward, nothing happened. He fell to the floor at the exertion. The crowd gasped in awe as his claim proved true.

Zolt spoke in horror, "Wha... What did you do to me?"

"Your firebending is gone. Forever." The crowd gasped in astonishment once again. "The ear of bending is over. A new era of Equality has begun!"

Cheering came from the crowd as theirs hopes had been answered. A second bender was untied, a waterbender and a recruiter. He looked and smiled at his fellow thugs, but when he was pushed forward, "No! Ugh!"

Cleansing the impurity.

He pressed forward against the waterbender, who proved weak and easier to subdue than his leader. The two remaining benders looked at each other in fright. The older man is picked up by the collar and thrown forward to face the wrath of equality.

After finishing him off, it was just the boy who was left. A scared response escaped him, "Uh, hello, Amon, sir. I think there's been a big misunderstanding."

He stepped forward as the boy cowered. Pathetic, he almost stated out loud how weak the boy was. Before he could finish his work, sound of pressure exploded, to the right side of the rally, steam escaped the pipes in a massive fashion. Too much for a malfunction, a waterbender was present. As he stood in the mist, he backed away, waiting.

He heard the scream of one of his men as they were thrown by a bystander. "Bolin, you all right?"

"Yes! Mako! I love you!"

Steps of running followed and the heavy thuds of his Lieutenant pursued.

He walked calmly to the source of commotion. He stepped out the door to see his Lieutenant on the floor holding his chest as he was opposite a jutting of earth. Half a dozen Equalists had come to him. He pointed to the three people escaping on a Polar Bear Dog, "The Avatar. That's her!"

"Let her go."

Amon grabbed the railing, "Let her go." His followers stopped looking at him in confusion, "She's the perfect messenger to tell the city of my power."

He stepped away from the railing as they lost sight of the Avatar escaping. He stepped back into the door as his followers helped their Lieutenant on his feet.

He walked down the hallway. A change in plans but it fit still, "It has begun."

Notes

In this story, Amon heard Mako's comment about his ability and his being delusional.